Fastener structure

ABSTRACT

A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on the first end, a ridge extending circumferentially about the body adjacent to the seating configuration, a plurality of splines on the outer surface extending from the second end toward the first end and terminating at the ridge, and grooves between the splines extending from the second end toward the first end and through the ridge.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved fastener for use with a specialized type of automotive wheel rim which receives the fastener within an elongated relatively small diameter bore in the hub of the rim.

By way of background, there have recently come into vogue automotive rims which are known as "tuner" rims. These rims have a hub with elongated bores which receive both the axle-mounted studs and the fasteners for securing the rim to an associated axle. The bores in the hub are of relatively small diameter, and the studs which are attached to the axle are located within these bores and they occupy a relatively large portion of the diameter of the bore. In the past, the nut fasteners which were used were basically elongated, hollow tubular members open at both ends having an internal thread at one open end thereof for receiving the stud and an irregular internal configuration at the other open end thereof for receiving a wrench for turning the fastener. Nuts of this type had certain disadvantages. One disadvantage was that the nut was open at its outer end, which gave rise to a series of disadvantages. In this respect, the stud was visible and, if it were discolored or rusted, it was unsightly. Additionally, foreign matter could enter the open end of the fastener, which was also unsightly, and, further, could interfere with the attachment of the nut-turning wrench to the fastener. Additionally, the number of threads within the nut were limited because the threads and the wrench-receiving configuration were located in end-to-end relationship, and they could not overlap. It is with overcoming the foregoing deficiencies of prior art fasteners that the present invention is concerned.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved fastener which can be utilized within a relatively small diameter bore which also receives a stud which occupies a relatively large portion of the diameter of the bore, with the fastener having a wrench-receiving configuration on its outer diameter which is located in close proximity to the inner surface of the relatively small diameter bore when mounted on the stud.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fastener of the foregoing type which has a separate seating member on its body so that the seating member can be fabricated with selectively different materials which best suit the intended use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved fastener of the foregoing type which can be fabricated by economical fabrication techniques such as broaching.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fastener of the foregoing type which has a closed end which will obscure the stud on which it is mounted.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved fastener of the foregoing type wherein the closed end is frangible in the event that its bore is too short to receive its associated stud in properly mounted relationship. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.

The present invention relates to a fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end, and said splines defining a diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration.

The present invention also relates to a fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a ridge extending circumferentially about said body proximate said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end and terminating at said ridge, and grooves between said splines extending from said second end toward said first end and through said ridge.

The present invention also relates to a fastener and wrench combination, said fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on said first end, a plurality of first splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end, first grooves between said first splines, first sides on said first splines adjacent said first grooves, and said wrench comprising second splines, second grooves between said second splines, second sides on said second splines, said second splines being received in said first grooves and said first splines being received in said second grooves with the engagement between said first sides and said second sides being at a drive angle of about 90°.

The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle wheel rim of the type for which the improved fasteners of the present invention are used;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing portions of the hub of the rim with an improved fastener in position and a wrench which is utilized for installing and removing the fasteners associated with the rim;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the improved fastener of the present invention in seating relationship to the hub of the rim;

FIG. 4 is an fragmentary cross sectional view of the improved fastener taken substantially along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the fastener body without the annular seating member thereon;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 7--7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially alone 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 9--9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 10--10 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the annular seating member;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the wrench which is utilized to mount and remove the nut from an associated stud;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along line 13--13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of an alternate form of annular seating member mounted on the fastener body;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary enlarged schematic view showing the drive angle between the wrench and the nut; and

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a fastener, in accordance with the present invention, in the form of a bolt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improved fastener 10 of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-11 is in the form of a nut which is utilized to secure rim 11 to the studs 12 carried by axle 13 of an automotive vehicle. The rim 11 is known in the art as a "tuner" rim and is fabricated of a cast alloy. The rim 11 includes an outer tire mounting portion 14 and an inner hub 15 shown in cross section in FIG. 2. The hub 15 is secured to outer rim portion 14 by a plurality of generally radially extending configurations 17. The hub includes a surface 19 which abuts surface 20 of axle 13, and the inner cylindrical surface 16 of hub 15 mounts on cylindrical protrusion 18 of axle 13. Hub 15 also includes a beveled surface 21. Bores 22 extend inwardly into hub 15 and they include an enlarged portion 23 (FIG. 2) and a reduced portion 24. The studs 12 extend into bores 22 as shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen from FIG. 1, there are ten bores 22 in hub 15. However, the axle 13 carries only five studs 12 and the studs are positioned to enter every other bore 22.

The improved fastener 10 is dimensioned to fit closely in bores 22 when mounted on studs 12. The fastener 10 in the nature of a nut includes an elongated body 25 having an outer surface which has spaced splines 27 separated by longitudinal grooves 29. The grooves 29, as can be seen from FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, extend from the end 30 through ridge 31 which is circumferentially separated into spaced portions 36 by the grooves 29. The splines 27 extend substantially the entire distance between end 30 and shoulder 32 on ridge 31, the shoulder being formed by spaced inclined shoulder portions 33 of shoulder 32, and thus splines 27 extend for the major portion of the distance between the ends of fastener 10. The ends of splines 27 proximate body end 30 are beveled at 34.

The body 25 includes a cavity 35 having an enlarged portion 37 and a slightly smaller threaded portion 39 which receives stud 12 in threaded relationship (FIGS. 8, 9 and 10). The cavity 35 extends from the open threaded end 39 to the opposite end which is closed by a relatively thin wall 40 (FIG. 9), which thus conceals the end of stud 12 and thus obscures any rusting or discoloration of stud 12. However, since wall 40 is relatively thin, if for any reason stud 12 is too long for cavity 35, the stud can rupture the wall 40 so that fastener 10 can properly engage hub 15.

The end of body 25 remote from wall 40 mounts an annular seating member 41. In this respect the open end of body 25 includes an integral mounting extension 42 having an annular barb 43 thereon. The annular seating member 41 has an annular groove 44 therein which terminates at an annular shoulder 45 (FIG. 11). The annular seating member 41 is press-fitted onto body extension 42 with an interference fit and once it has reached its required position, the edge 47 of barb 43 will engage shoulder 45 of annular seating member 41. In this position the beveled surface 49 (FIG. 10) of annular seating member 41 will engage the tapered shoulder portions 50 (FIG. 5) of ridge 31 in complementary mating relationship. By the use of a separate annular seating member, the outer surface of the nut body 25 can be fabricated by broaching, while the addition of the annular seating member 41 provides a continuous uninterrupted seating surface 51. Also, the use of a separate annular seating member 41 permits it to be made of a different material than the nut body 25 which may also be made of different materials, as may be required for different uses. Also the nut and the seating member may have different coatings. When each nut 10 is in its fully installed position, the continuous beveled annular surface 51 of annular seating member 41 will engage annular shoulder 52 (FIG. 3) of each bore 22 in complementary mating relationship to thereby mount rim 11 onto axle 13. It is to be noted from FIG. 3 that the beveled annular surface 51 of seating member 41 engages substantially the entire annular beveled surface 52 of rim 51 to thereby provide substantially total bearing contact therewith, while the smaller diameter of the nut across splines 27 permits the wrench 53 to enter the space between splines 27 and the inner surface of portion 23 of bore 22, as will become apparent hereafter.

The nut 10 is installed and removed by means of a wrench 53 (FIGS. 2, 12 and 13). Wrench 53 includes a tubular body portion 54 which is internally splined at 55, with the splines 57 being of a size to be received in grooves 29 of body 25 and with the grooves 59 of wrench 53 receiving splines 27 of body 25. The sides 28 (FIG. 6) of the splines 27 of the fastener are engaged by the sides 58 of the splines 57 of the wrench 53 at an optimal drive angle of about 90° (FIG. 15), and this permits the wall of the nut to be relatively thin and still be capable of receiving high torque from its associated wrench, which may have a thin wall. As can be seen from FIG. 15, the drive angle is the angle which is produced between the resultant force vector V generated by engagement of two drive components and a radial line L drawn from the center point C of the two components, namely, the fastener 10 and the wrench 53.

As can be seen from FIG. 10, the ends 56 of the splines 27 overlap the threads 39, thereby providing a longer area of contact with an associated wrench than could be obtained if the splines were located internally within the nut. The end 60 of tubular member 54 is hexagonal for receiving a conventional wrench. As can be seen from FIG. 2, tubular body 54 is of an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of portion 23 of bore 22 so that the tubular body 54 can enter each bore 22 and slidingly interengage with the grooves and splines of nut body 25. The end 61 of body 54 is tapered so that it will engage shoulder portions 33 of ridge 31 in complementary mating relationship.

In FIG. 14 an alternate annular seating member 41' is shown which has a series of protrusions 70 which fit into the portions of the grooves 29 which are located between the spaced portions 36 of ridge 31, to thereby positively prevent rotation of annular seating member 41. It will be appreciated that one or more of protrusions 70 may be used.

In FIG. 16 a bolt type of embodiment 63 of the fastener is shown. The only difference between this embodiment and that of FIGS. 1-11 is that it includes an integral threaded stud 64. However, the outer configuration of body 25' and the outer configuration of annular seating member 41 are identical to the outer configuration of body 25 and annular seating member 41, respectively, of FIGS. 1-11. The only difference between the nut type of fastener of FIGS. 1-11 and the bolt type of fastener 63 of FIG. 15 is that the body 25' is solid whereas the body 25 of FIGS. 1-11 is hollow to receive a stud. The fastener of FIG. 15 is utilized in the same manner as the fastener of FIGS. 1-11 except that its threaded end 64 is received in tapped bores of an axle. It will be understood, however, that the outer periphery of body 25' being the same as the outer periphery of body 25 will therefore function in the same manner as described above relative to body 25 in FIGS. 1-11 and it will be operable by means of a wrench such as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

At this point it is to be noted that the splines and grooves of the body 25 are equally circumferentially spaced. However, if desired, they can be unequally spaced and therefore will require the use of a mating wrench so that a generally equally spaced wrench will not be able to be used. Also, there are infinite combinations of spacings, sizes and configurations of the splines and grooves so that infinite numbers of fasteners can be provided with each particular fastener requiring its own wrench.

It will be appreciated that the fastener could be fabricated from steel, aluminum or any other suitable material, and the seating member could also be fabricated from steel, powdered metal or any other suitable material. Also, the fastener can be coated with decorative types of coatings such as nickel, chromium, black chromium, colored anodized finish, or any other desired finish. Also, the seating member can be coated with a mechanically functional coating such as zinc, or any other suitable coating.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end, said splines defining a diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration, a ridge on said outer surface of said body proximate said first end, and said splines terminating at said ridge.
 2. A fastener as set forth in claim 1 wherein said splines extend on said outer surface for a major portion of the distance between said first and second ends.
 3. A fastener as set forth in claim 1 including a shoulder on said ridge facing said second end.
 4. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end, said splines defining a diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration, a ridge on said outer surface of said body proximate said first end, grooves between said splines, and said grooves passing through said ridge.
 5. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end, said splines defining a diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration, a ridge on said outer surface of said body proximate said first end, a shoulder on said ridge facing said second end, and a second shoulder on said ridge facing said first end.
 6. A fastener as set forth in claim 5 wherein said seating configuration comprises a separate annular seating member mounted on said first end of said body.
 7. A fastener as set forth in claim 6 wherein said separate annular seating member abuts said second shoulder.
 8. A fastener as set forth in claim 7 wherein said separate annular seating member includes a beveled edge portion facing away from said ridge.
 9. A fastener as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fastener comprises a nut, and a thread within said nut.
 10. A fastener as set forth in claim 9 wherein said thread extends into said nut from said first end.
 11. A fastener as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second end of said body is closed with an end wall.
 12. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end, said splines defining a diameter which is less than the diameter of said seating configuration, and said seating configuration comprising a separate annular seating member mounted on said first end of said body.
 13. A fastener as set forth in claim 12 wherein said separate annular seating member includes a beveled edge portion facing toward said first end of said body.
 14. A fastener as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fastener comprises a nut, and a thread within said nut extending inwardly into said body from said first end of said body.
 15. A fastener as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second end of said body is closed with an end wall.
 16. A fastener as set forth in claim 15 wherein said end wall is of a thickness which can be ruptured by a stud threaded into said cavity.
 17. A fastener comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a ridge extending circumferentially about said body proximate said first end, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end and terminating at said ridge, and grooves between said splines extending from said second end toward said first end and through said ridge.
 18. A fastener as set forth in claim 17 including an extension of said body on the opposite side of said ridge from said splines.
 19. A fastener as set forth in claim 18 wherein said extension is of a smaller radius than the radius of said body at said grooves.
 20. A fastener as set forth in claim 17 wherein said body is hollow.
 21. A fastener as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first end is open, and a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end.
 22. A fastener as set forth in claim 21 wherein said second end is closed with an end wall.
 23. A fastener as set forth in claim 22 including an annular barb on said extension.
 24. A fastener as set forth in claim 21 wherein said splines overlap said thread.
 25. A fastener as set forth in claim 24 wherein said first end is open, and a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end.
 26. A fastener as set forth in claim 19 including a separate seating member on said second end, and at least one protrusion on said seating member extending into at least one of said grooves which is located in said ridge.
 27. A fastener as set forth in claim 19 including an extension of said body on the opposite side of said ridge from said splines, and a seating member on said extension.
 28. In a tire rim having an outer tire mounting portion, an inner hub, a plurality of axially-extending elongated bores in said hub, and a shoulder at the end of each of said elongated bores, the improvement comprising a fastener in at least some of said plurality of said elongated bores, each of said fasteners comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and first and second ends, a seating configuration on said first end engaging a shoulder, a plurality of splines on said outer surface extending from said second end toward said first end, and at least a portion of said splines being located within a bore in which said fastener is located.
 29. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 28 wherein said seating configuration comprises a separate annular seating member mounted on said first end of said body.
 30. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first end is open, and a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end, and wherein said splines overlap said thread.
 31. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 30 wherein said seating configuration comprises a separate annular seating member mounted on said first end of said body.
 32. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 30 wherein said internal thread extends substantially throughout the length of said bore.
 33. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 28 including a ridge between said first and second ends, and a second shoulder on said ridge facing said second end.
 34. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 33 including a third shoulder on said ridge facing said first end, and wherein said seating configuration is a separate annular seating member in effective abutting relationship with said third shoulder.
 35. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 33 wherein said splines terminate at said ridge.
 36. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 35 including a third shoulder on said ridge facing said first end, and wherein said seating configuration is a separate annular seating member in effective abutting relationship with said third shoulder.
 37. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 36 wherein said first end is open, and a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end, and wherein said splines overlap said thread.
 38. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 37 wherein said internal thread extends substantially throughout the length of said bore.
 39. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 33 including grooves between said splines, and wherein said grooves pass through said ridge.
 40. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 39 wherein said splines terminate at said ridge.
 41. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 40 including a third shoulder on said ridge facing said first end, and wherein said seating configuration is a separate annular seating member in effective abutting relationship with said third shoulder.
 42. In a tire rim as set forth in claim 41 wherein said first end is open, and a thread extending inwardly into said body from said first end, and wherein said splines overlap said thread. 